davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
Fashions in Cats.

The Persian cat is of an exquisite
Maltese color, with long silky hair and
topaz eyes. A full ruff around her
neck and feathered ears and toes tes-
tify to her pure blood ''Dundrearv
Whiskers" and tail like banner
complete her charms. and in this de-
scription are noted the distinctions of
her breed. Not all Persians are of her
color; there are several varieties, the
preferable being a pure white with
yellow eyes. Persians possess all the
eat virtues, including gentle DISPOSE
ton, in which latter quality they excel
the Angora, their rival in popularity.
The Angora Cor Angola is a cat of
superbly dignitied manners, but its
long hair, being closely curled, is eX-
tremely hard to keep in nice order,
needing, in fact, frequent washing. 1t
is supposed to be descended from the
Siberian wildcat, and its cries are said
to be even more uncivilized and weird
than the unknown tongue in which
ordinary pussies exchange opinions on
the back fence. Either of these cats
is a beautiful creature, though not so
intelligent as the shOrt-haired kinds.
Persians are often imported, but there
are places in New York where the
kittens may be sometimes procured at
moderate price.
Of the short-haired cats perhaps the
greatest favorite is white with blue
eyes. If to these attractions are
added tufted ears, the animal ranks
high, and is considered worthy of a
ribbon collar and silk tassels on the
tips of the ears. The points especially
desired are perfect whiteness withou;
a colored hair, both eyes of the same
hue, good hearing flor some are deaf ,
and manners not too languid- 1t must
be said that cat of this sort, though
affectionate and exceedingly orna-
mental in a room, is not the most
knowing of its family. To be thing
of beauty is quite satisfactory to the
high-bred creature.
Next in favor is the Maltese, some
times called the blue, and to be per-
feet it should be of rich dark shade,
free from hint or suspicion of any
other hue. Amber-colored eyes apd
Ups and soles of black are equally in
dispensable. To these qualities the
Maltese adds good temper and bright
neSS.-H0TDe7"S B0zaT.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
Why Horses Shy.

have never met a veterinary sur
geon who knew anything about ''cat-
aract of the eye in horses. | call it
that because it is an expressive term.
The trouble is the most general of any
now affecting the horses of this coun-
try. 1t is the cause of nearly all, if
not all, of the shying which surgeons
fail to find a reason for except gene
raj cussedness." This cataract is of
a brown growth, of fungus nature,
that spreads over the pupil of the eve,
from the top downward. 1t has the
appearance of a sponge growing away
from its hold. 1t is difficult to see I'M
less strong daylight falls upon the
horses eye exactly right. Then it can
be seen plainly, silent evidence of
the animals defective eyesight |
have examined horse after horse and
with but two or three exceptions out of
about fifty have found their eyesight
thus affected. Of course it is worse in
some than in others. 1t grows lust
like cataract or cancer; at first Just
dawHing ominously on the upper edge
Of the pupil, then gradually extending
itself. | have watched it expand on
my own horse and its growth has been
very marked in even the short time OF
two years. | have observed one thing
about it that makes me certain that
my conclusions are correct. Every
shying horse that l have examined,
has, without exception, been so affiiot-
ed. Never have [ seen a horse shy
whose eye was not clouded by this
ineXplicable growth | began to study
this curious defect after a long expe-
rience in trying TO break my spirited
horse of shying. took him to doz-
ems of veterinary surgeons, but they
all said it was his cussedness. l used
to whip and punish him in every way
to break him of it, but l could not.
Now [ remember how curiously he
cooked his head at suspicious object
just as person with poor sight will
try to get better focus. Finally one
day the light happened to strike his
eye right and | saw the cataract. The
whole thing was plain to me then. |
have studied the matter carefully
since, and the Globe Democrat will be
the first to say anything about this
prevailing effect. Ii anything has
ever been published about it, and if
any reason can be advanced, L should
like to hear of it. Whether it is be-
cause of the barbarous and cruel
blinds which, by shutting out the light
and causing the animal to look for
ward instead of sideways, affect his
eyes, or whether it is because of dark
stalls, cannot tell. But | am sure it
is the cause of all the shying and
much of the stumbling that now makes
driving and riding SO unpleasant and
dangerous.-A H0rseraan IN the ST.
Louis Globe Democrat.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
A Mysterious Stone Fort.

There is nothing in Tennessee, or in
the south, whose antiquity is so mys-
terious and entirely beyond the domain
of recent speculation as the old stone
fort, which is about mile and a half
below the town of Manchester. The
two prongs Of Durk river come within.
say, two hundred yards of each other,
and then widen out. making territory
of perhaps one thousand acres in the
forks of the river, and below the Mar
rows. At the Narrows the fort COM
mences by stone wall, now covered
with earth running from one river to
the other, and the walls are built
along the banks of both rivers down to
Il point where a canal had been cut
from one river to the other. There a
wall Is made from one river to the
other, perhaps a quarter Of a mile.
On the outside of this wall is a hollow
and in this hollow is the sign of the
canal or cut, evidently intended to
protect the fort by both the wall and
the canal From the upper to the
lower wall at places there are high
bluffs on both rivers. Wherever this
bluff precipitous-is found there is no
wall, but wherever there is no natural
barrier the wall is built. The entrance
to the fort was at the upper end, and
the gateways show that the builders
were doing their work intelligently.
The entrance is by q narrow passway,
with walls on either side and offsets
so as to prevent the enemy on the out
side from having a Greet entrance for
themselves, and SO as to protect those
on the inside from missiles from the
outside. The fort contains forty-seven
acres, and is, or was when the writer
first saw it heavily timbered, many OF
the trees of large size growing on TOP
Of the walls.
Col. Sam Murray, who settled there
about 1908, cut one of the trees from the
top of the wall and found it to be SOC
year old. One mile up the riverfro the
fort is an immense mOund-the largest
one perhaps in the country il
probable that the fort was built by the
mound builders. Beyond this nobody
knows anything about it, Col. Murray
who was man of nigh intelligence,
claimed to have conferred with the
Indians of different tribes, but none OF
them could give any account of it,
either by tradition or otherwise. This
fort is one of the many evidences thai
in this country, at some remote period
there was a race of people of more sta
bility and intelligence than the rowing
Indians which the first settlers found
t-NaShUiEe american.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
Pin Money for Wives.

Among the poor, particularly the
thrifty and industrious poor, the wo-
man of the household, be she wife or
daughter, has much more control in
dispensing the daily or weekly wage
than women on higher social plane;
men of Drawn, when sensible and
kindly, practice more generous rule
of conjugal partnership than is usual
among men Of brain, though these
latter's earnings are on such . scale Of
plenty that unless we look below the
surface regulations and equipments Of
the home we fail to discover the false
financial relations that exist between
husband and wife. For wives, as q
class, have no spending money, and
are rarely cognizant of their hus-
bands true business condition. Is this
just to the being man has promised
to honor as we'll as to love?
Women are accused of being
''mean," and anyone who has ever
served on a collection committee
knows how, in forming a list OF posi-
ble subscribers, name after name Is
omitted with the remark, mo use OF
going to her, she never gives, or,
'.She has no money" And yet the
husband of .'she" is invariably man
of means or ample professional IN
come, who pays extravaganza house
bod or personal bills for his family.
usually with willing GOOD nature. 1t
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
"Shine'em Up?'

A bluff, hearty English friend was
giving us his impressions of America.
He seemed to have especially noted the
contrast between our young people
and their juvenile English cousins
Your youths are more forward than
ours. he said, land less respectful to
their elders"
We remarked that this was only
natural a characteristic of all Our peo-
pie: our institutions developed a spirit
of independence
Yes, he responded: land this spirit
appears to have been in a marked way
developed in your bootblacks. l was
in Washington, and had occasion to
avail myself of the services of one of
these knights of the brush. While he
was shining l asked his price, which
he said was ten cents. But, l said,
in New York it is only five cents. In
an instant he had thrown aside his
brush. Well, mister, ne said, |
guess yerd better 90 ter New York
and get Yer boots blacked. "-Edtto11S
Draacer, III Harper's Magazine.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04

titled to don. Her household incluG-
eel a major domo, 4 grand almoner,
and several chaplains, secretaries,
pages, and Wallets de chambre. The
expense she incurred in buying rich
vestures, costly dam escene arms, and
nettlesome horses was beyond what
wealthy courtiers of her time would
have gone to. OF whom did she want
to make a conquest? There is nothing
in the old musty papers which NJ. Trou-
bat has been searching to show. But
one may assume with him that she
wanted to subiugate some person or
persons besides the English by the
beauty of her accoutrements. At Van
couleurs she DOTTED her peasants garb
to wear for the rest of her life mascu-
line attire, the mission which she re-
ceived from on high being a soldierly
one But the most fastidious belle
never showed herself more dainty in
the choice of her feminine habiliments
than Joan Of Are did in that of her
mans clothing. Her armor was of
great beauty and inlaid in curious
Saracenic manner with gold. When
she laid it aside she dressed in the rich
est stuffs of silk brocade, which in
winter were lined with fur. One of her
suits was of cloth of gold, embroid-
cred with cunning needle work.
PHILADELPHIA Press.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
Rich Ritumen Bed.

A letter from San Luis, Obispo, Cal,
to the San Francisco Chronicle says:
The remarkable recent discoveries are
for oil. The abundance of asphaltum
in this county has long been a matter
of notoriety, and its mining and ship
ping to San Francisco has for many
years constituted a large and profit
able business, some $500 tons being
the annual product.
The existence of asphaltum init
mated the existence of petroleum. In
the valley of San Luis creek, about
two miles from its entrance into the
Bay of San Luis Obispo, Dr. G.. r.
Nichols, the owner of the land, OBJ
served some rock appearing to con-
tain asphaltum or oil, and proposed
boring on the spot. Taking as associ-
ates in the enterprise Judge Fred
Adams, a capitalist, and Alf Walker,
practical operator, the project of
boring was undertaken about one year
ago.
AT about six hundred feet in depth
the artesian auger entered u body of
rock from which flowed large volume
of sulphur-water accompanied by an
inHammable gas. The water has a
temperature of 80 degrees and flows
about thirty thousand barrels day.
The gas, when confined in Jet of four
inches in width and one-siXteenth in
thickness burns with flame two or
three feet high. The quantity of gas
flowing from the we'll has never been
measured, but it is estimated by some
to be more than double that used in
lighting the city of San Luis Obispo.
The boring was continued until a
depth of very near nine hundred feet
was reached, without any change, and
there it rests. This singular we'll,
with it's fountain of hot sulphur water
surmounted by its waving plume of
flame, is situated in a very pleasant
and romantic locality in valley
threaded by a pretty little stream and
amid great oak and sycamore trees,
while between it and the ocean is a
high hill, which shelters it from the
heavy sea breezes, that are sometimes
disagreeable, rendering the climate
always as genial and lovely as the
scenery is picturesque and beautiful.
To the general public, or at least to
the lover OF the eSthetc, 1t IS deemed
a great good fortune that no oil was
found, as, instead the locality has
been turned into park, appropriately
named Nichols park, bathrooms and
restaurants constructed, swings sus-
pended from the high branches of the
trees, dancing floor laid, and the
beginning made of what must be the
most attractive resort in the state.
Bathing in the water affords inexpres-
siEle delight. The temperature is per-
feet for the purpose, the water health
giving and soft and in every sense de-
licious. The resort is of easy access,
as on the opposite side of the valley,
"a few hundred yards distant, is the
Pacific Coast railway, and good wagon
roads lead to San Luis and to Pismo,
either about five or six miles away.
This is one of the great and singular
Developments of the year.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
Joan OF Arc as a Coouet.

The French have been celebrating
the anniversary of the woman who
delivered them years and years ago
from the English-Joan of Are. The
maid was much more the coquet than
Michelet represents her Shakespeare
may, perhaps, have Judged her more
accurately than the French historian.
Voltaire took the first part OF the
Shakspearean view. NJ. Jules Trou-
bat, after infinite researches in provin-
cial and other archives, proves hes, to
have been all arch coquet, and as much
addicted to tinery as any New York
belle. He gives chapter and verse to
prove that she loved SNOWY raiment
and did not wait for the King to give
her brevet of nobility to wear gar
ments and stuffs which in her time
Counts and Countesses were alnn
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
EDUCATIONAL.
Necessity for Placing the Highest Eduea-
tional Advantages Within Beach
of Women.
Elimination of Non-Esse entails Modern
Methods for Teaching Graphic His
tory-Schooi Notes.
EDUCATION FOR WORK OR cULTU2Ep

EDUCATION FOR WORK OR CULTURE?
Much as we may talk of ed
ucation of the mind" and ''discipline
of the faculties" the education of boys
and young men has mainly been dom
mated by practical ends. We are far
from saying that those ends have al
ways been wisely sought; we simply
contend that in general they have been
recognized. When a young man has
been destined for the bar, for the
church, for the profession of medicine,
or for some scientific or literary career,
there has been a special object in Civ
ing him as liberal preliminary edu-
cation Us possible; and such courses of
higher education as have heretofore
been devised have had as their main
intention the fitting of men for profes-
sional careers, and not the mere pro-
duction of large number of finely-pol-
ished intellects destined for no partic-
ular function whatever. 1t may be
further said that, in the education of
men, the definitenesS of the ulteriOr
aim has been to q large extent the cir
cumstance that has rendered the i'm
parting of q sound education possible.
The mind can carry what it means to
make use of, what it expects to find
serviceable, far better than it can what
does not point to any special applica-
ton. The education Of men has thus
been given q certain cOncreteness and
a certain actuality from the fact OF its
bearing, or, at the very least, being
understood to bear a distinct and def
Mite rel tiOn tO Or3 ctical life
How is it, now, as regards the edu-
cation of women? 1t is certainly true
that women are taking to-day much
wider share in the work Of the world
than they did even q generation ago.
Many more careers are open to them,
and their ability to assume even the
most difficult professional duties is no
longer doubted. Manifestly, then. a
practical necessity has arisen for plac-
inc within the reach of women the
highest educational advantages. 1t
can hardly, however, be maintained
that the somewhat clamOrOuS demand
that has been made of late years on be-
half of women for such advantages has
been mainly inspired by the desire to
enable women to hold their own in
various professional walks. The OBJ
iect has rather been to produce gen
GRAFTON of gifted women without refer
ence to any special practical use to be
made of their high accomplishments
Couture" for cultures sake has been
the idea, rather than culture for the
sake Of more efficient aCOr6. From
'EHjgher Education of Women" i73 Pop
qttGr Science NOnthIy.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
War Among Wild Mules.

At length we reached the first rem
devious where about three hundred
wild mules were already assembled
waiting for the distribution of tse
much-prized salt, says writer in the
Youths Companion, describing an adj
venture in South America. They were
collected in groups of ten or dozen,
each group being presided oyer by a
mare, who seemed To have trouble
| enough with her unruly followers
In order to keep up her dignity and
proper respect for her craftsmanship
she allowed no mule to approach with
in the radius commanded by her teeth
| or heels laying down her ears and
lashing cut in all directions whenever
| they showed any inclination to press
too closely upon her.
1t was curious to- observe that the
mules never attempted to bite or kick
their foster-mother in return for her
rough treatment of them. Among
themselves, however, there was, no
such kindly feeling, but each seemed
to hate the other with mortal spite, and
frequent and lond-sounding were the
blows of jealous heels on unwary ribs.
When all was ready, the salt bags
were opened and the contents dis
tributed upon the ground i'll several
small heaps at sufficient distances
apart.
When the battle began all respect,
even toward the foster-parent, WAS
forgotten in the intense eagerness Of
each animal to reach the salt The
law of the strongest and most cour-
ageOus was paramount In the wild
medley that ensued.
Now one mule, with ears Laid well
back and mouth wide open, would
charge into the excited thrOng, and
lash out with tremendous force, fury,
and rapidity, clearing a complete ring
for one brief moment, during which it
would have the salt heap all to itself
Another mule, rendered frantic by
the sight of the salt disappearing,
would charge into the circle, and a
savage duel would commence, during
which other animals would slip in,
and meeting each other all would
again become an indescribable scene
of fighting and tumult-
The blows given and taken were
something frightful to witness, yet, as
far as [ could see, no animal exhibited
any sign of pain, but again and again
each would return furiously to the
charge.
recalled my own recent experience
in mule-driving, and no longer Won
dered at the slight impression made by
nv heavy hunting crop. Compared
with the punishment which these ami
mails voluntarily endured for a single
lick of salt spch blows as mine had
been but touches of rats tail.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
Cost of Making a Watch.

They were comparing timepieces in
the Dewitt house office. the other dav
A. l.. DenISOn, of Portland. was one of
them. Trustee Ben Hilton. of North
Arson, balanced gold timer on his
dexter finger, and Hon. Rufus Prince.
OF South Turner, produced the old re-
liable sun-regulator from his watch
pocket. 1t looked like n convention
OF watchmakers, and served to point a
moral TO this story.
"A cousin of mine" said Mr.. Deui-
son, who was of the same name as
myself, was the first person to make a
watch by machinery, and it was he
who established the Waltham watch
works in Waltham, Massachusetts.
He was abroad over twenty years in
Switzerland and on the continent. in
Producing his matchmaking ma
chinery.
Not long ago, on visit to this
country, he came to see me. He
asked me this question: How cheap
do you suppose can make watch
by machinery-that is, good, fair
movement one-one that we would
warrant for term of three or four
years?' | tried to answer him. and
did make a guess. Now, what would
you say?"
Il can buy 'em for $780," said
Charley Weymouth"
ooh, say-er-er-s2," replied Mr..
Prince.
Mr.. Dennison smiled, and as he
clicked his jackknife and put it in his
pocket, replied with that peculiar sat
isfaction that always invests such
situation: He said he could make
such watch for just 50 cents"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
A DevOut Mans Wise Answer.

A lady once asked Mir. Wesley:
''Supposing that You knew that you
were to die at II o'clock tomorrow
night, how would you spend the inter
vening time?" How, madam? Just
as 1 intend to spend it now" he re-
piled. i should preach this evening
at Gloucester, and again at o'clock
tomorrow morning; after that |
should ride to Tewksbury, preach in
the forenoon, and meet the societies in
the evening. / should then repair to
my friend Martins house, who expects
to entertain me. converse and pray
with the family Us usual, retire to my
room at 10 O'Clock, commend myself
to my Heavenly Father, lie dow -
rest, and wake up in glory. "-HosRt-
letic ReUieaU.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04

Is only when money is asked for that
tightening of the purse strings in
stlnetively takes place, and the I'M
oiushing query is made, "Why, little
woman, what did you do with the s.
l gave You last week?" We have heard
such question put to beloved wife
oy man whose yearly expenses were
at least $4,000, and who the next
week gave the same wife valuable
diamond earrings. and always encour-
aged her to dress eXtravagantlv and
i've luXuriously.-Ha rper's Bazar.